Love in Ireland

/31/

-Sunday December 31st-

It is New Year's Eve. And that also means today is the New Year's Eve ball. This ball, however, does not start till nine at night. It is only four, so I have quite some time to do stuff before I have to get ready.

Right now, I'm in my studio, working in my pajamas. Alannah's sitting on the couch with her computer. She's playing music and also scouring the internet to see if she can find who is behind all the texts. Which I am extremely grateful for. Already today I have gotten tons of texts. Alannah took my phone to help with her researching and every time a new one comes she reads it out and then we say what our witty comeback to the text would be. So many of Alannah's comebacks have made me laugh. It's actually been quite fun, and I'm glad that she found a way to make them feel less hurtful.

"Milena!" Zach yelled, running in to the studio.

"What Zach?" I asked, raising one of my eyebrows.

"I was thinking..."

"That's new." Alannah commented, cutting him off.

"As I was saying." Zach said, glaring at Alannah. "I was thinking. And well, I know for whatever reason you and Declan are anti PDA. But just hear me out-"

"Zach." I sighed. Why was he so interested in Declan and me kissing? Part of me has wondered if he's caught on and knows we're faking.

"Here me out. No one has seen you kiss. And almost every couple has been caught kissing or in some intimate moment by the press. When it comes to royals they never miss anything. And well you and Declan haven't been caught and so the press and a lot of nobles and such think that one of you isn't fully commited. And Tara believes that too and has probably started spreading rumors." Zach explained.

"Okay and...."

"Right. So you know how there's the whole midnight kiss thing? Well, most couples will probably be doing it, so you and Declan won't be the only ones technically showing PDA. And it'll squash rumors. Plus, Tara's birthday is tomorrow and it would really suck if at midnight she saw you two kissing. It would definitely make her made. So bonus. Not that you really need the bonus because I'm pretty sure if you and Declan didn't both have insane self restraint, Alannah and I would have seen you kiss already..."

I looked over at Alannah, and she was smirking. She knew this was coming. She knew Zach was going to be persistent about this. And she probably knew that Declan and I making a no kissing rule would come back to be problematic farther down the road.

"Zach. No." I said plainly. "Not happening."

"Why not?" Zach pressed.

"Because. And why are you so persistent about this?" I asked.

"I'm sick of all the rumors. And also the fact that you and Declan are trying not to show PDA even in front of Alannah and me. I mean, Declan literally looks at you 24/7 like he wants to kiss you. So like I'm just confused why you guys don't." Zach shrugged.

"Have you never kissed someone? Have you never kissed Declan? Is that why you're so against this?" Zach asked.

"W-what? I've had my first kiss, Zach. Calm down." I said. "And I've told you the whole midnight kiss thing is not happening!" Did I want to kiss Declan at midnight? Yes. And did I know that if I did kiss him, it would be the moment that confirms my strong feelings for him? Yup. And did I know that it was breaking one of our rules? Also yes. So logically kissing Declan at midnight would be a terrible idea.

"Why? Have you not kissed Declan this whole time you guys have been together?" Zach asked. "Why are you so against this? Do you not actually like Declan? Is that why you refuse to do more than hold hands, dance, and let him hold you or touch you?"